Date:20/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/20/stories/2006022016390800.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Plea to declare holiday for Onam

Special Correspondent

Mannam memorial award presented posthumously to Melur Damodaran

CHENNAI: Nair Service Society general secretary P.K. Narayana Panicker has requested the Tamil Nadu Government to declare a public holiday on Onam to help lakhs of Malayalees in the State celebrate the festival.

Mr. Panicker, who was the chief guest at the 129th Mannam Jayanthi celebrations organised here by The Tamil Nadu Nair Service Society on Sunday, said he was aware of the many problems faced by Malayalees settled outside Kerala. The NSS was making efforts to solve a few of the problems.

He presented the Mannam memorial award posthumously to poet and social activist Melur Damodaran. The award, comprising a citation, a memento and Rs. 5,001 in cash, was handed over to his son, Krishna Kumar.

C.K. Vasukuttan, president, Tamil Nadu unit of NSS, highlighted the activities of the "linguistic minority NGO" during the past 13 years. A portrait of M.N. Bhaskaran Nair, former president of South Madras NSS, was unveiled.

Playback singer K.S. Chitra and social activists P. Narayanan Nair and V. Ramunni Menon were honoured.

B. Mohanachandran Nayar, former Indian Foreign Service officer, lauded the work of the organisation.Actor-couple Jayaram and Parvathi and Chennai Corporation counsellor Susheela Gopalakrishnan spoke.